Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 443 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ them growled. , 4 bi Deadwood Dick J Yr. a dapper, dandy-looking person, scarcely of medium hight, attired in a fine black corkscrew suit, with white shirt, collar and tie, and shiny silk hat. ‘ The form was very plump and graceful of , contour, and when beneath the light of the sa- loon it was easy to agree that the stranger was a girl, or else a very pretty and ieinintin ooking boy, for the face was a vivacious and attractive one, with a sweet little mouth and dancing black eyes, and a wealth of short, curly hair was exposed as she politely tipped her tile on enter- ing the Daisy Saloon. _**Good evenin’, fellers!” she saluted, address- ing the half-~lozen men who were lounging about the bar. ‘‘I say, be you goin’ to treat?” The men surveyed the young fop, as he stood twirling his gold-headed cane, with scowls of dis- p-easure, ‘*No! younker, we ain’t goin’ to treat!” one of ‘Any one as slings on the lugs as you do, wi’ yer Sunday togs, stove-pipe hat, gold-headed cane, an’ diamonds, orter be able to treat ’emselves, an’ the crowd, besides!” for the dapper stranger’s shirt front fairly blazed with diamonds, and several fine diamond rings were upon the fingers. ‘So ve ain’t goin’ to treat, eh?’ queried the stranger. ‘**No! we ain’t!” ‘* How is it with you, Dutchy?”’ and the in- — leveled a wry glance at the expansive euton, who presided behind the bar. * iO, you got nodi to drink, vot you don’d pay for!” was the reply. ‘So run righd along oud, sonny. Ve don’d do some off dot drust piz- ness, here.” “Don't eh? Now that’s kind ‘o’ tough. Kin- _ der thought [ could hang you up for a drink.” ‘*My young friend, if you are in want of a drink, I'll pay fer it!’ The words were uttered in a frank, hearty voice, and a young man who had been sitting at a table, arose, and stepped forward—a dashing- looking fellow, not yet out of his teens, clad in a brown suit, top boots and sombrero—hand- some as an Apollo, and as graceful, too. In fact, no less a person than Dick Bristol, otherwise, Deadwood Dick, Junior. ‘“* Give the girl a drink, bartender!” he added, **and I'll have a cigar.” And he laid a coin down on the counter. ‘*Der gir?” echoed Dutch Duff, in astonish- ment. ‘* The girl?” cried t.9 miners. ‘Yes, the girl!” Yreplied Deadwood Dick, Junior. “Und you vas a girl?” queried Dutch Duff, staring at the young stranger, wh> evidently was only about sweet sixteen. . | “Why, of course, Limburger! What d’ye take me for?’ wasthe pertanswer. ‘ What do I look like, anyhow?” “ vou vas look like a sissy dude, so help ‘‘ But, I ain’t, you know! Iam a daisy, you bet, and just as fresh and fly as they make ’em.” ‘‘Vel you petter nod go to gotten too fresh around ak: to-nighd, mine young friend, or some off der poys vill ‘salt’ you und you not pe quite so fresh, somedimes, all at vonce!” And the Teuton’s sides shook with laughter, at his own fancied wit. ‘* Ts that so?” drawled the girl sport, after a swallow of brandy. ‘‘SoI don’t strike you as being able to fight, eh? Don't look as if 1 could kill a muskeeter, do 1? Well, now, that’s cause yer don’t know me. I’m a tough, I am, an’ I come from Toughtown. There’s many a chump ts flipped up, on my size. Come, friend,’---to - wood Dick, Jr., ‘‘let’s take a seat, over ere. And the girl led the way to a table in the rear part of the saloon, which was only dimly lit up, et. eadwood Dick, Jr., followed her, and ae became seated on opposite sides of the table. The light was sufficient for them to take a look at each other, which they did, before either ventured to speak. ““Say, d’ye know I kind o’ like you?” the girl sport finally observed, in a matter-of-fact way. PDo you? Well, I guess I shall have to return the compliment,” Dick replied, with a pleasant smile. ‘‘I don’t usually take much stock in girl sports, you see, but it rather struck me you were an exception to the usual run of that species. “So I am, as you'll find out, if you know me » Jong enough. I ain’t no hot-house flower, what was brought up in the parlor, to nurse a pug dog, an’ play the piano—oh! no! I can shoot, o7~ run, jump, swim, wrestle, and fight, but there ain’t no more opery music about me than there is in a hump-backed hen. Say, what’s yer name? *Scuse my freshness, fer askin’—that’s jest a way Pve got.” ‘You may call me Carl Clyde!” was the an- swer. ‘* But, that is not your real name?” ‘Maybe not. I may have another name, or a dozen of ’em, for that matter, but one answers the same purpose as another. What is your name?” ‘* Kittie Kenyon.” ‘* What! not California Kit, who is to box with a local tough, known as Big-Mouth Mose?” Dick demanded, in supreme astonishment. ‘*The very same, you bet! Don’t look much like a Sullivan, do 1? ‘** Indeed, you do not! Why, you will never be able to stand up before this bruiser, Mose. I’ve seen him, and he is a tough-looking cus- tomer—a big brute, I should say.” ‘* He is, eh?” ‘““'Yes. I doubt if I could knock him down, myself, if he was to put his hands behind his back, and let me blaze away at him!” California Kit laughed, merrily, at this. ‘**So you ain’t much on the knock, I take it?” she said. ‘‘That’s no bad fault. A person as don’t know how to slug is less liable to carry around an eye in mourning than a person who has got a pile of conceit.” ‘* Have you ever boxed, much?” ‘*Well, I should hum! I knocked out Big Bullock, at Shaefer’s Flats, a week ago, for two hundred a side, and did it in two rounds, at that. Oh! I'ma little tough, when it comes to flingin’ my fists.” ‘* How old are you?” ‘* Now, look here; ain’t that kind of an imperti- nent question to ask? Don’t you know young ladies don’t like to tell their ages? If I was ter tell you I was sweet sixteen, now, mebbe fifteen years from this ’'d want to make out I was only eighteen, and you’d be around, somewhere, to give me dead away!” ‘**Oh! well, Pll take it for granted you are not much over sixteen,” Dick smiled. ‘“‘I wish I could persuade you not to attempt to box with Big- outh Mose!” You think he will do me, eh?” ‘*T certainly do!” ‘* You allow he will spoil this purty phiz of mine.” ‘* He certainly will.” ‘*And you'd hate to see anything like that?” quizzically. ‘*T surely would!” Dick declared, heartily. California Kit put out her little white hand— a hand that did not look as if it could strike a blow of sufficient force to knock down a six- year old boy. ‘* Shake!” she said. ‘I’m with you, on that 1. I wouldn’t like to have my face mashed into a jelly, myself, no more’n you'd like to see it, for expect to use it to ketch onto a million- aire, one 0’ these days, when Old Monte passes over the range.” ‘*Old Monte? Whois he? ** Oh! he’s my old dad—the worst old bum you ever saw in your life, He hain’t no good. You'll see him around hére ’fore the evenin’s out—a reg’lar walkin’ advertisement of Bacchus, tbe God of Wine, tho’ Monte allus takes whisky, when he can get it.” ‘*Ah! Lsee. You are troubled with an in- temperate parent, who forces you to the sort of life you lead, to keep him in money with which to buy whisky!” Dick said, pityingly. “Troubled? Forced? ell, now, I guess not! Do [ look like a fresh young tenderfoot, who could either be troubled or forced! Nixee! The old man he goes et on his own hook, an’ so do I. Once in a while I have to loan him a V, but he always paysit back. As fer this feller, Big- Mouth Mose, I'll do him up in no time; unless [ am awfully mistaken.” ae | hope you will, Miss Kittie, but I am afraid you don’t know your man.” ‘“Maybe not, but I know my biz!” with a shrug of the shoulders, ‘‘ and don’t you forget that. Have you got any money to say I don’t ut him on his back in the first round? If so, ‘m right at home, and ready to entertain callers.” . And the girl sport drew a roll of bank notes from her pocket and shook them invitingly under the very nose of Deadwood Dick, Jr, Dick gazed at her a moment in astonishment, ‘‘Do you mean it?” he said. ‘‘ You bet. I’m business, every time, and my name is California Kit!” : ‘Well, I haven’t much money, yo ladv— ust an even hundred,” Dick said By j ? ut Di LLL LLL LLL LL LL tai himself in a cushioned arm-cha wager that you don’t knock Big-Mouth Mose out; in one round, if it bu’sts me!” “Very weil! Keep the money in your pocket, and here ismy hundred. You are to be stake- holder. Here alsois asum of money, Which I want you to make bets with. You will find lenty of takers, and you can give odds of ten to ve that 1 will win, all bets to be put Up in the hands of Julius Jenks, the bartender.” So saying, she deposited the roll of notes in his hands and arose. ; ‘You will excuse me, now,” she said, “as J must go for my supper. Do not hesitate, but do as I tell you, and you will find in California Kit. a friend worth having!” : Then, with a smile and a wave of her hand, she turned away and passed out of the Saloon,, leaving Deadwood Dick, Jr., in a very Puzzled frame of mind. ‘Well, here’s a go,” he mused. ‘ My first: night in Bummer’s Bar promises to be a0 inter- esting one. Can it be that I am to duplicate the adventures of my predecessor, the OMiginal Richard of Deadwood? Verily, it would seem so. And what strange fate, I wonder, has thrown me in contact with this beautiful git! sport, California Kit? Only time can answeT that question, I fancy!” CHAPTER ITI. MRS. HYATT’S VISITOR. OF the several mines or drifts in BuMmer’s Bar, that known as the Lucille was somewhat the most productive, and, consequently, the richest. It employed more hands than the others, and — better wages, for the individual owner, Mr. avid Hyatt, was a liberal gentleman, and did not believe in forcing his employees to Work at. starvation prices, that he might add a” addi- tional and extra golden lining to his coffers, He argued that well paid laborers felt more called upon to do an honest day’s work than those who were cut down to the lowest figures and it was this motto that gave him uDlVe popularity in the camp. . Mr. Hyatt was a fine-looking man, 2 the rime of life, and his prosperity never made him in the least conceited or domineering. | _- He was wont to mingle among thé “~ boys” freely, and not one of them could say the™e was anything mean or stingy about him. e lived in one of the best-furnished 41d - ome ey shanties on the Bar, and was ™®!rjed, ut had no children. 9 er He had been married some three ye®'S pre- vious to our story, to an Omaha lady, and had brought her with him to Bummer’s Bar. Mrs. Hyatt wasa beautiful blonde, aged about thirty, and those who knew her well enOUgh to speak to her, agreed that she was a ch@lming wash well educated, refined and sociable. She was noted at the Bar for the eleg@tce of her toilets, all of which were impo rom the East, and when she was seen about the Camp, which was seldom, the miners raised the!t hats in profound respect as she passed brjs4¥ op. ne evening, less than a week; \ met arrival of lifornia Kit am... A Dick, Jr., at Bummer’s Bar, Mrs. Hyatt gat alone in the front room of the Hyatt shanty, reading at a table, on which burned a brillant e front room was used as a parlor, aldwas very prettily furnished. rs. Hyatt was attired in a handsome Wrap- per, and her wealth of sunny hair was 50 be- comingly arranged as to give a most pleajng effect to her fair face. : Mr. Hyatt was out for the evening, 4M] so there was no way to pass the time but tOpore | over the pages of a novel that Jay before he, So interested ae oe in the book, that she qiq_ not hear a knock upon the door until it Wa pe _ peated a second time. Then she started quickly toher feet. | © ““T wonder who it can be?’ she said, half aloud. ‘Some one to see David, no doubt.” She went to the door, unlocked and openty it. Outside she could discern the outlines of g man’s figure, but that was about all, forte night was intensely dark, the sky being ‘ver- cast with black clouds. | ; ‘‘Does Mr. Hyatt reside here?” a deep base ’ : = | voice inquired. : Mrs. Hyatt?” “*T am.” ‘« He does, sir.’ ‘* And are you At this the man stepped forward, and Pl%hed past her into the room, saying:’ ‘*T would speak with you a moment, madi, * . And without further ceremony, he ir, d ye . ‘Re ee « ee cbooks.com!